Self opening and closing umbrella.



W. SOHAAF. SELF OPENING AND CLOSING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1913. 1,091, 95, I Patented Mar. 31, 19m

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 110., WASHINGTON D c W. SGHAAP. I SELF OPENING AND CLOSING UMBRELLA.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 19, 1913.

Patented Man 31,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0., 79 florizey 6' I p; WM

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-,WASHINGTON, D. c.

WALTER SCI-IAAF, 0F LEICI-ILINGEN, GERMANY.

SELF OPENING AND CLOSING UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Application filed August 19, 1913. Serial No. 785,467.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER SOHAAF, a subject of the King of Prussia, and resident of Leichlingen, in the Province of the Rhine, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self Opening and Closing Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention pertains more particularly to that class of umbrellas known as automatic opening or automatic closing, both forms of which broadly are old.

It has for its objects among others to pro vide an improved umbrella of this general type which shall be both self opening and self closing.

I aim further at improvements in the details of construction whereby the desired ends are accomplished with ease and oer-- tainty, at the same time reducing the cost to a minimum.-

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this invention, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of an umbrella constructed in accordance with. my invention and shown in its closed condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing some of the parts in a different position, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged substantially central longitudinal section, with parts in elevation, of the upper part of the umbrella in open, or extended position.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a designates a slide and b a tip cup or cap encircling the same.

0 is a spring catch pivotally mounted within the inner tube, later to be described, the said catch having its free end portion projecting through the end of the slide and terminating in a lateral finger or thumb piece by which the latch may be readily manipulated, as will be evident from Figs. 1 and 2.

d are springs extending parallel with the stretchers of the umbrella and partially inclosed therewithin, these springs encircling the rods 0 extending lengthwise of the stretchers and secured thereto at one end, the other ends being connected to the sliding links or members 0 to which are con-- nected th links m which have their other ends connected to the ring portion p of the sliding sleeve a, as seen best in Fig. 3.

h is the usual stop ring secured to the upper portion of the stick of the umbrella,

as seen clearly in Fig. 8. The ribs are con-v nected at one end to the upper ring on the stick, as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the other ends being pivotally connected with the stretchers, as seen in Fig. 8.

f is a catch pivotally mounted within the stick near the upper end having a portion adapted to extend through an opening in said stick, as seen best in Fig. 3.

g is a sleeve mounted to slide upon a sleeve 7: surrounding the stick, as shown best in Fig. 8. The slide a is provided with an inwardly extending portion or reinforcement Z.

u is a tube arranged within the stick, as seen best in Fig. 2, said tube being connected with the articulated member 8 within the handle portion '1" by means of the flexible rod 25, said tube a being also connected by a suitable flexible wire with the catch f to one side of the pivot of the latter. The handle 1" of the umbrella comprises a fixed part 1, and a portion 2 pivoted on a pivot 3 passing through the fixed part, the part 2 being provided with a division plate 4 carrying a pair of ears 5, to which the one member of the articulated member s is piv otally connected, as seen in Fig. 2, it being understood that the tube a slides within the stick.

a is a draw ring mounted on the um brella, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

lVith the parts constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, the operation is as follows: Supposing the frame to be closed and it is desired to open the same, it is only necessary to draw back the cap I) and to depress the spring catch 0, which action releases the slide a which had been held in its closed position by the catch, when the spiral springs cl come into play, that is to say, these extended springs contract and draw with them the members 6 which draw the rods or links m more and more out of the position in which they are when closed, that is substantially parallel with the stick, outward into a position substantially at a right angle to the stick, as

reinforcing member Z of the sleeve (4 can slide over said sleeve is. This action releases the sleeve a and the springs (Z are thereby further released. The catch f which is under spring pressure, prevents the slide from springing back and thus the frame is held in its open position, as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired to close the umbrella, the draw ring 11. is pulled downward and the catch f is drawn back within the hollow umbrella stick so that the slide a can pass downward over the same. By this downward movement, the springs are gradually contracted meanwhile the springs cZ contract further and take sliding bolts 6 fixed thereto with them. These bolts strike against the wire rods 0 passing through the interior of the springs (Z andattached at their other ends near the joint between the umbrella ribs and the stretchers. As can best be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the rods 0 are so attached at their ends that the mere fact of pushing them upward exerts a turning movement upon the joint between the ribs and stretchers tending to turn the ribs against the umbrella stick thus closing the umbrella. Just prior to the conclusion of the final closing move ment, the upper projection of the stick spring engages the sleeve a and the cap 6 is drawn over the ends of the umbrella ribs, as indicated in Fig. 2. If now it is desired to again extend the frame into the position for use, the movable part 2 of the handle 1*, which constitutes a lever, is simply drawn out and after the tension has been obtained the movable part 2 is to be pressed back again. By pulling upon this movable por-' tion of the handle, the tube 26 by reason of the articulated member s and rod 25, is carried with it, together with the spring 0 and the sleeve a, which latter is connected with the springs, as above described. The inner sliding sleeve 76 with its ring Z remains in place, as well as the rods and ribs connected thereto. As soon as extension or stretching of the springs (Z is effected, the rib Z on the sleeve a has slipped beneath the lower springy portion of the sleeve 7: and the latter has fixed itself behind said rib Z and the springs (Z remain in tension. By the Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D, G.

movement of the member 2 of the handle 1" into its previous position, the lower proj ection of the catch 0 engaging in a cavity of the sleeve a and the frame is again closed as seen in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A self opening and closing umbrella comprising a hollow stick, a spring catch thereon, a slide movable on the stick and engageable by said catch, and having an annular inwardly extending rib, a sleeve embraced thereby and having its lower end outwardly deflected, means on the stick to engage said slide, the umbrella stretchers and springs connected therewith and to'the slide having said rib.

2. A self opening and closing umbrella comprising a hollow stick, a spring catch thereon, a slide movable on the stick and engageable by said catch, and having an annular inwardly extending rib, a sleeve embraced thereby and having its lower end outwardly deflected, means on the stick to engage said slide, the umbrella stretchers and springs connected therewith and to the slide having said rib, and a member pivoted within the stick and engageable by said slide.

8. A self opening and closing umbrella comprising a hollow stick, a spring catch thereon, a slide movable on the stick and engageable by said catch, and having an an nular inwardly extending rib, a sleeve em braced thereby and having its lower end outwardly deflected, means on the stick to engage said slide, the umbrella stretchers and springs connected therewith and to the slide having said rib, a member pivoted within the stick and engageable by said slide, and a handle and an articulated member therein connected with said pivoted member.

4:. A self opening and closing umbrella comprising a hollow stick, a spring catch thereon, a slide movable on the stick and engageable by said catch, and having an annular inwardly extending rib, a sleeve em- I braced thereby and having its lower end outwardly deflected, means on the stick to engage said slide, the umbrella stretchers and springs connected therewith and to the slide having said rib, and a cap for cooperation with the ends of said stretchers when in their closed position.

In testimony, whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER SCHAAF.

Vvitnesses I Louis VANDORY, HANs DUMONT. 

